Electric sign.



N e-834,235. PATENTED 0GT.23, 1906.

A. c. HEINY. ELECTRIC sum.

:APPLIOATIOH FILED DBO. 15 1904.

. display-letters in outline,

lected and connected in 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANATOLE .O. HEINY, OF NEW YORK N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND 'MESNE'ASSIGNMENTS, TO HEINY ELECTRIC (QO., A CORPORATION NEW YORK.

Specification'of Letters Patent.

I EliEcTmo SIGN.

' Patented Oct. 2a, 1906.

Application filed December 15,1904. .Sarial No. 236.999.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I,'ANATOLE G. HEINY, a

citizen of ,the United States of America, resldlng in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Signs, of which the following is a specificat10n.

This invention relates to improvements made in electrically-illuminated signs in which incandescent lamps are arranged to In signs of this character the; lamps are arranged generally .in a number of separate frames or boxes,

usually termed panels, each of which the lamps are connected together in certain,

groups or sets 'so as to form when illuminated the outllne of a letter or a numeral, according to the group or set of lamps which may be sesource of electric current. 1

1n my present improvements the lamps in each panel can be *connected singly or in groups to circuit-closing contacts in a switchboard of novel construction containing a separate selecting device for each letteror character thatthe lamps in the panel are capable of forming by different combinations,

.and each selecting device is actuated electrically by means so controlled froma single keyboard that by depressing any selected key the particular selecting devices controlledby the key will put the current on the proper lampsin the panel to show in illuminated outlinethe-particular letter or character borne by the key. This switchboard and its circuit-selecting means render it practical to operate and control any number of panels from a-sin'gle. switchboard containing keys for producing at will in any given panel the letter or. character individual to the key op- .erated, as well as to producein one panel after another given letters to form a word or a sentence simply by depressing and releasing the proper keys in the keyboard, one after another. 3 a

I The improvements embraced iniand constituting my present invention cfom rise, a novel ,systemof lamp -circuits, each avingseparate circuiteclosing devicesin a single switchboard and electrically actuated circuit-select ngdevices combined with a single keyboard containing a separate key for every letter or character.

osed circuit with a the simple depression and release of the keys in the keyboard.

The improvements include also novel construction and arrangements of illuminating-v oups or separate sets, clrcu'lt-se-i circuits in t .lecting dev1ces,'and electrically-actuated 011- h the movement of the key, whereby cuit-closing mechanism operating to connect .a

the selected circuits in each group or set directly with or intothe source of current to maintain the samein operative condition,

while the circuit-selecting devices actuated, from the keyboard are automatically disconnected from the illuminated circuits in one group or set and transferred to the next 'group or set of circuits for o eration.

'The invention inc udes, further, certainnovel construction-and combination of lampcircuits, circuit selectln devices, circultclosers, and keyboard mec anlsm, producing an improved electrical apparatus for displaying in illuminated outline letters or characters in different arrangementsto form words or sentences or arbitrar slgnals and for changing the same at wil all as hereinafter; fully described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of thisspecification. v The accompanying drawings, that form a 'part of this specification, illustrate the con struction of one letter-panel containing ,9. number of lamps with'which can be formed the outlines of any letter of the alphabet or a numeral, and the different figures and-diagrams thereof represent the circuit-selecting I devices, circuit-closers, and controlling means for aportion of three panels and a common i keyboard.

Figure 1, is a diagrammatic representation of theilluminatingecircuits fora part of the jacent panels, together with the'circuits of two letter-keys and two switch-keys the es 1 whole number of lamps contained in twoad keyboard, and the generator for supplying the current. A portion of the lam -circuits in the third panel is also shown in t 's figure. Fig. 2 is a diagram representing the normal position of the circuit-controlling means for three panels before the same are actuated from the keyboard and by the operation of which the switchboard is operatively disconnected from one panel and transferred to the next panel in succession. The illuminatingcircuits and their circuitclosing relays are not shown Fig. 3 is a similar diagram illustrating the position of the parts after the keys for particular letters have been pressed to produce those letters in the first and second panels and the switchboard is disconnected from those panels and connected for operation into the third panel. The circuitclosing relays and the circuits for supplying current to the lamps on the third panel are omitted in this diagram. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the panels, showing a portion of the front of the box broken away to expose the wiring. Fig. 5 is a top view of the panel with a portion of the box broken away to show the lamps and their reflectors. Fig.

. 6 is a rear view of the panel on the front of which the lamps are fi'xed. Fig. 7 is a top view of Fig. 6 witliout the lamps. Fig. 8 is a plan or top view of the switchboard containing circuit-selecting devices for all the lamps in all the panels. Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an end view of the same figure, taken from the right side of- Fig. 8. is a top view, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the switchboard, showing the fixed contact-strips and one of the movable selectingbars and its actuating-magnet. Fig. 12 is a side view of one of the circuit-closing relays on the panel. Fig. 13 is a top view of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through the keyboard. and the contacts operated by the keys. Figs. 15 and 16. are details of the contacts under the key-levers.

A complete sign or apparatus asset up for advertisingpurposes having the capacity to display a number of letters to form words or sentences is composed of a number of panels A, each of which will be the duplicate, substantially, of the panel. represented in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 All the panels are connected with the switchboard B, in which the circuitselecting devices controlling the lamp-circuits of all the panels are actuated by electrical means and operated from a single keyboard D. These three parts containing the novel features of the invention are combined together to form the complete apparatus. The following description of the same-in connection with a portion of the circuits and the circuit-controlling devices of two panels will enable any person skilled in the art to which my invention relates to apply these improvements to any number of panels or groups of bulbs C on the front of the board a.

Fig. 11

illuminating-circuits without further explanation.

The construction of he panel is here described in connection w th Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 of the drawings. sulating material of rectangular shape having on the front the screw-sockets d for the lamps C and carrying on the back the circuitclosing devices and their actuating-relays. The front side and back of this board are covered, and the entire mechanism on front and back is closed in by the sheet-metal box a a a a are secured tubular reflectors f, that are fixed around apertures a in the front and are arranged to fit over and inclose the la%ilpe front a is removable to give access to the lamps and their connecting-wires, and the rear 11 can be detached when the mechanism on the back is to be reached for inspection or repairs.

The light-bulbs C, placed in rows across the front of the panel, are arranged in such order at intervals apart that by different combinations of the bulbs selected from the different rows and connected in circuit with the supply of current all the letters of the alphabet or any numeral can be produced.

In the present construction thirty-three incandescent bulbs distributed in five rows The board a is a panel of in- On the inner side of the front cover horizontally across the panel at intervals apart, as shown in Fig. 4, will enable any letter or numeral to be produced in outline.

At each lamp-socket are provided two binding-posts 2 3, with which the terminals of the lamp-filament are connected when the lamp is screwed in place in the socket. One of these posts 2 at every socket is connected by a Wire W to a common conductor W, that leads to one side of the generator G; but from the other post 3 of each lamp-socket a metallic connection is madeby a wire 4 with a hinged contact-plate 7 on the back of the panel.. Thus each light-bulb C has one side of its filament always connected into the common conducting-wire W but the remaining side is connected toa separate contact-plate 7.

' Along the sides of the panel binding-posts 8 constitute the terminals of a series of conductors -W', running from the posts to the switchboard B, where each wire connects se arately with a stationary contact bar These conductors W and the contact-bars b correspond in number with the light-bulbs or groups of light-bulbs. For convenience of construction and to bring the parts into compact arrangement the binding-posts 8 are arranged in rows along the sides of the panel and the contacts 7 1n rows near the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fi 7, though this particular arrangement may e changed if found desirable.

12, carries a series of spring-contacts 13 and amember 14, that forms the armature of anelectromagnet m, by the attraction of which the bar is turned, and the Whole set of contacts 13 is closed on the ends 6 of the bind-" ing-posts 8 beneath those contacts. On the other hand, when the circuit through magnet m isopened the contacts 13 leave the points 6 and break the connections. Asthe contacts 6 are preferably arr nged in two sets, as shown in Flgs. 6 and 7, t ere are two of these bars 10 and magnets m.

Between the contacts 13 and 7 that are situated behind the light-bulbs, as already described, are situated the circuit-closing magnets n, corresponding in number to the contacts 7 and each one having one end of its coil connected to a contact 13 and the other end to a conductor W running to oneside of the generator G. In addition to this cormection the core n of each magnet .n is directly and separately connected at the rear end to the same contact 13 by a wire W in such manner that when the hinged contact 7 is attracted to the core and the contacts 13 6 are o ened the circuit'will be from the wire W t rough the coils of the magnet, thence by the wire W 4 to and through the core and the contact 7 held against it, and thence to that light-bulb on the front of the panel having.

connection with the contact 7.

Each one of the magnets n isbrought into condition for operation by the act of closing the contacts 13 on the terminals 6 of the conductors W; but only those magnets of the set n throu h which the circuit is completed at the switchboard B will become magnetized and will operate to-close the lighting-circuits connected to their respective contacts 7.

- Each light-bulb or group of light-bulbs on the panel is represented on the back of the panel, therefore, by a separate contact 7, a circuit-closing magnet n, and circuit-closing contacts 6 13. In the illustrated construction of my invention the stationary bars I; at

rom the different panels to the switchboard hatis to say, the several conductors W ,that re individual to the circuit-closing electrohe panels have the second bar for their ter- 'iinal, and so on throughout the whole numer of panels, so that all the lamps that have a. common position on the different panels lave connect ion1 with one and the same 0011-, ,act fbalf in the switchboard, A circuit :losedthroughany one ba'r, therefore, may

A bar 10, of insulating material, hinged at troma after in connection, more ated und er the contacts 26.

gnet in the first panel with which that bar is in electrical connection, but also to the:-

corres onding magnet in every other panel. By se ecting and connecting into the generator G at the same moment different bars I; it will be seen that the current would be caused toflowthrough all the magnets that are connected with the selected bars, and these will in turn operate to closethe circuits through the corresponding lamps, and thus the illuminated lamps may be caused to form desired letters at the panels. This operation is confined to one panel at a time, however, by circuit-controlling mechanism that operates to confine the application and flow of the illuminating current to a single panel at a time and also to connect the operating-circuits of the panels directly with or into theswitchboard in regular succession, one panel after another. L

The construction and 0 eration of, this controlling means will be" escribed hereinparticularly, with the diagrams Figs. 2-and 3.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 rep resenting the construction of the switchboard B, the two bottom rails 21, of insulating material, su port at the ends a set of thirty- ,three metal ic contact-bars b, permanently fixed in arallel rows at intervals apart longitudina y of the switchboard andall insulated from one another. These bars I), which I have termed the stationary contact-bars of the switchboard, are the terminals of the conductors W, that are carried from the binding-posts 8 of the panels to the switch goarcbl, where they are separately tied to the ars screws 23 are provided. In making these connections the conductors W are carried from the switchboard in a cable of insulated wires to the last panel in the sign or to the last panel in the lowest row of the sign, where there is more than one row of panels, and at that end the wires in the cable are distributed and individually connected to their respective binding posts 8 on -the side of the panel and thence carried through the whole set or number of panels iirthe same relative order, so as to electrically connect like circuit-closing magnets in all the panels with the same stationary contact I) at the switchboard Over these stationary bars and insulated from themare as many rock-shafts as.

there are letters, figures, punctuation-marks,

and make metallic connection between itan'd/ such' ones of the stationarybars as are. situ p and position of the contacts :26 therefore, are

at one end of the board, where binding- I 125, of the rock-shaft in onedirection will touch I By the number I &

I determinedwhat contact-bars b will be sethe rock-sha lected and which operating-circuits in the panel will be closed on turning the rock-shaft so as to set its contacts '26 against the bars below. By the arrangement'of these contacts along the rock-shaft in proper position over the stationary contact-bars b, which it is necessary ,to select inorder to form a given letter in the fpanel, the simple movement of t 24 will act to simultaneously close the generator-circuit on all those bars, it being understood that any rock-shaft is connected into one side of the generator-circuit at the moment it is set against the contact-bars.

In the present construction, for illustration,

the contacts on the first rock-shaft 24 being so arranged at intervals along the shaft that there is one contact situated directly over each of the third, ninth, eleventh, sixteenth, eighteenth, twenty first, twenty third,

twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth,

and thirty-third stationary bars I) the cir- 'cuits controlled by those bars will be closed at the instant that the rock-shaft is turned, but the remaining circuits will remain open. The corres ondin lamps inthe panel being selected wi form t e outline of the letter A, (see Fig. 4,) and the circuits being'completed at the panel throughthe circuit-closing devices operated from the switchboard the panel Wlll display that letter as long as the circuits remain closed.

The contacts 26 are arrangedin the above' 26 are placed in pro er order to make contact with certain ones the stationary bars I) and not the others.

Each rock-shaft is represented in the keyboard D by a separate key formed of a metallic bar 30, pivotally attached at one end to a fixed support 31 and having a fin er-piece 32, bearin a distinguishing-letter. ach key 30 contro s the circuit of an electromagnet p on the switchboard situated in front of an armature-piece 28 on its corresponding rock-shaft. Whenever a current is passed through the coils of the magnet, it attracts the armature, and thereby turns the rock-shaft and sets all the contact-strips 26 in contact with the stationary bars beneath it.

The top rails 33, extending across the switchboard lengthwise, support the electromagnets above the rock-shafts, each with its pole 1n close relation. to the armaturepiece of its rock-shaft, and the number of key-levers 30 corresponding to the number of magnets. The latter are connected se arately 1n circuit with the generator from WlllGll current is supplied to energize them by the simple movement of the key-lever against a fixed stop 34, to which one end of the ma netcoil is connected by a conductor 35. Al the key-levers are connected into a common conductor W running to one side of the generator G, while a conductor W, leading from the other side of the generator, connects with the coils of the magnets p, so that a circuit through a ma net p may be completed as often as its assoclated key-lever 30 is depressed against the contact-sto 34.

A spring 36, ig. 14, holds the lever 30 normally away from the contact 34 and serves to 0 en the circuit at that point at the instant t at the operator releases the key after having de ressed it. These connections are the same or all the ma nets 1). Other keys 39 40 are rovided in t e keyboard in addition to the etter or character selecting keys, one

of which, 40, is an ordinary circuit opening and closing ke for connecting or QlSOOIlnecting at will the mechanism and the generator, whereas the other, 39, termed the throw-off key,'is arranged in the conductors that connect the circuit-selecting mechanism on the panels with one side of thegenerator-circuit throu h the keyboard. The lever constituting t is throw-oil key 39 is connected into one side of the generator by a conductor W and stands normally away from the fixed stop 41, that forms the termlnal ofthe conductor W", common to all the panels. This key 39 controls the operatingcircuits in all the panels through the medium of the relays s and armatures 44, which compose the means for operatively disconnecting a panel from the switchboard mechanism and bringing the preceding panel into operation to be again set for displaying a given letter. As fast as the last-operated key 30 in the keyboard is released and another is about to be selected and depressed to form the next letter in the sign the connections between the switchboard and the panel last operated on are cut off and the switchboard becomes connected into the next anel.

The mechanical fEatures of the cut-out and transferring mechanism are seen in Figs. 6 and 7, and diagrams Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the manner in which the parts are connected in circuit with the source of current through the switchboard and are controlled from the keyboard. I

The three circuit-closing relays m t a on every panel operating on the circuit-closing levers 14 45 50 control the connection between the common source of current and the illuminating-circuits of the panel in such circuitsjare selecte source of current, is cut off or carried through manner that on depressing a key in the keyboard at the beginning of the operation to form a word-or sentence a letter correspond-- ing to the letter borne by the. key is formed on the first panel, and on releasing the key the 0 erative connection between the switchboard and the first anel, whereby the lamp- (1 and connected into the or aroundthe first panel and is' transferred to the second panel Without disturbing the circuits necessary to light the lamps in the first panel.

As already mentioned in the'detailed de scription of the panel and as seen in the diagram Fig. 1, one'side of every lamp is connected into one side of the generator by the conductor W, and from the other side of the lamp a lead 4 terminates at the contact-strip 7, which when attracted by its relay n closes the circuit to the opposite side of the generator through the core n of the relay, as well as through its windings, and over the connecting-wire Vi to the conductor W letter-key on the release of the letter-key that was last depressed it operates by attracting the ar' and thence to the opposite pole of the generator. In this last-mentioned connection the circuit-closin r armature 44 in contact with stops-43 hol s the circuit normally closed, but also serves, when drawn away from the stops, to open the circuit at thatpoint.

he relay 8, connected in normally open circuit with the generator through the throwofi' key 39, becomes energized a the instant that key is depressed, and by ttracting its armature 44 it opens the circuit at the points 43, the efiect of which is to break the connection between the source of current and all the selecting-magnets n in the panel, and thus re-' store them to position ready for setting the circuits for anotherletter. I The key 39 is brought into use only to correct mistakes in selectingand pressing one when another is required. Ordinarily the circuit remains closed at the stops 43.

The second one, t, of the three relays m t "u, acts upon the circuit-closing lever 45, and

mature-lever 45 to cut out the mechanism of the panel just actedon and to transfer or carry the connection with the switchboard to the next panel ready to repeat the opera.

tion of selecting and putting in circuit the lamps for the next letter.

The lever 45 of the first panel of the series is permanently connected by a wire W into the conductor W of the generator-circuit.

Each lever is rigidly attached to or formed as a member of a hmgedpolepiece 46, situated in front of the pole of the relay t: In its normal position away from the relay the lever is in contact with a stop .47, that forms the terminal of one end of the coil of the relay m, oriwhen attracted by its relay the v I; I

u o erates first to close. a

it, thus cutting outcircuit through t e 001 s of the relayit in the same panel, and then after its own armature 50 and the armature 46 of the relay t have been attracted the magnet m of the next succeeding panel is put into circuit connection with the generator, as has just been set forth in describing the o eration of the relay ii. To effect this operation, the relay u is wound and connected in the same manner as the magnets n, excepting that its circuit-closing armature 50 forms the terminal of one end of the windings in the relay t, whereas the circuit-closers 7 of the magnets nare the individual' terminals of one side of the lam -circuits. The relay u is preferably simi ar in construction to the electromagnets 'n and is with the generator simultaneously with the connection of such electromagnettherewith;

To effect this, the contacts for the relay a (designated 6 and 113) are arranged to be brought together whenever the magnet m is energized, the movable member 13 being connected with the rocking bar 10. The result of this arrangement of the three relays m, t, and'u on every panel is that the relaymagnet m first operates to set arts of the apparatus of that panel next to e lighted to operative relations. of that panel have been lighted the relay 1:, is brought into operation, and this in turn causes the circuit through the relay-magnet t to be closed, the circuits through these two relay-magnets u and t remaining closed so long as lamps in the panel to which they belong remain illuminated. When the relaymagnet t becomes energized, its armaturelever 45 is attracted and the circuit of the relay-lever m is broken at the point 47, but

at the same instant the corresponding rel-aymagnet t 111 the next succeeding panel 1s connected with the generator by the engagement. ever 45 with the contact 48,

of the armature the circuit from the generator belng by wire W armature-lever 45, contact 48, wire'W to the second panel, armature-lever 4.5 at that panel, contact 47'and windings of the relay In the same manner the second panel is cut out and the connection between the contact-bars b on the switchboard and the local-circuit conductors in the third panel is completed ready for selecting the proper' lamp-circuits in that panel by depressing the required letter-'keyin the keyboard.

As the magnets n and u have their cores:

Then after the lamps connected into the conductors of the generator-circuit through the windings of the spools, as before explained, it will be evident that they will continue to attract their respective circuit-closing armatures and maintain the circuits even after the connections with the switchboard are opened at the contactpoints 6 13. Consequently the bars I; of the switchboard can be connected in circuit with the series of circuit-closing relays n on one panel as rapidly as they are disconnected from the previously-illuminated panel without disturbing the continuity of operation of the illuminatingrcircuits.

In a set of panels A, wired and connected together through the above-described parts and conductors, each panel will be a counterpart of the others, excepting that the circuitcloser 45 on the first panel will be connected bythe conductor W directly into the conductorW, running to one side of the generator, whereas the corresponding lever 45 on the second panel will be connected'into that side of the generator-circuit only through the lever 45 of the first panel, the lever 45 of the third panel through that on the second panel, and so on. The result of this arrangement is that the generator will be closed on the magnet m on the first panel at the mo- 'ment that the switch-key 40 in the keyboard is closed but the circuit closing means on the other panels will be brought in succession into action only after a letter-key has been. depressed and released to illuminate the proper lights in the first panel.

The arrangement of the circuit-selecting and the transferring means by which an operative connection between the switchboard and the panels is first made and then broken in regular succession throughout the whole set of panels will -be understood from the following description of the operation of the mechanism of three panels, in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Before the generator is connected for operation the parts stand in the position represented in the diagram Fig. 2, excepting that the switch 40 is open and the magnet m of On closing the switch 40, however, a current is caused to pass from one side of the generator over the conductor W to the lever 45, thence to the coil of the magnet m and over the conductors W and W to the return-conductor W running to the opposite side of the generator. Magnet m, thereupon acting on the circuitcloser 14, connects the conductors W, leading with the electromagnets n, that control the lighting-circuits in the first panel, and every bar I) is thus in electrical connection with the illuminatingcircuits which it is arranged to -control in that panel. By the same movement of the circuit-closer 14 the relay u is connected, through the contacts 6*, the stop 1.3, and the'conductorW, with the contactstop 52, situated under every letter-key, so that Whatever key may be selected and pressed the relay a will become energized, and by attracting thedrop 50 it will complete a circuit through the coil of the relay 15, but only after the letter-key through the contact-stop 34 beneath its lever 30 has already closed the circuit on its proper magnets in the set p on the switchboard, and thus actuated the movable selector or rock-shaft 24. The position of these parts in the first and second panels after such movements of the letter-keys is indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the connections between the second panel and the switchboard through the first panel and of the third panel through the second and the first panels are traced as follows:

On depressing a letter-key its lever 30 makes contact first with the stop 34, and the current passing through the conductor W, the key-lever, and the conductor 35 to the coils of the selected magnet p in the switch.- board causes that magnet to move the rockshaft 24, through which, as before explained, a circuit from one side of the generator over the conductor W and through the rockshaft 24 and its contact-springs 26 is completed to every one of the bars 6 touched by 0nd panels,,the armature-lever 45 6f the sec 7 0nd panelfithe wire W tothe third panel, the armature-lever 4-5, the stop 47, with which such lever is in contact, the windings of the relay-magnet m at panel three, the wire W, lever 44, and wires W and W back to the generator.

By contact with the second step 52 the key-lever 30 also causes a current to pass over the wire W to the stops 6 13 and through the windings of the relay a, which thereupon attracts its armature 50 and closes a circuit through the coils of the relay :5, as already described, which throws the lever 45 from the upper stop 47 to the lower stop 48. The circuit from one side of the generator over the conductor W then will be traced as follows: From the point where the conductor W is tried to the lever 45 the current passes over the lever 45 to the point 48 and thence over the conductor W to the lever 45 of the next panel to stop 47, around magnet m, stop 43, and return-wires W and W.

The operation of the different circuits and the'controlling mechanisms on the keyboard, the switchboard, and the separate panels comprising a complete sign will be readily understood by tracing the operating-circuits between the switchboard and the illuminating-circuits of six lamps on the firstand secthe conductor W the key-lever 30,'and stop ond panels, as illustrated in Fig.1, where the lamps indicated at C C C C C C on the I second panelcorrespond to those on the first panel.

On closing the key 40 at the keyboard the relay m of the first panel sets the circuitcloser 1-4 and closes the local circuits of all the relays n at the points 6' 13, whereupon the circuit is traced from one side of the generator G through the key 40, over the conductor W and connections W to one side of all the lamps, from which point the circuit. continues over the connections .4 to the contacts 7. 'From the same side of the generator a current passes over the conductor. to every roc -shaft 24 in the switchboard, which thereupon becomes a terminalof one side of the common generator. The rock-shafts standing normally out of contact with the switch-bars I), however, the circuits remain open until by depressing a selected letter-key in the keyboard its lever 30 touches the first contact stop 34 beneath it. When that takes place, a current passes over the conductor W through the key-lever 30 and the stop 34 to the conductor 35, running to the selecting-relay p on the switchboard, where it traverses the coil and returns to the opposite side. of the generator-over the conductors W? W. i The relay then closing the contacts on those bars bw ich are controlled by the rock-shaft 24 completes over the conductors W sep rate circuits to the relays 'n through the contact-points 6 13, previously closed by the action of the relay m. Diagram Fig. 1 represents the second selector 24 as being closed on the first, third, and fifth bars, the first selector being now inactive, though having already been operated to light lamps in the first panel.

' The separate circuits selected at the switchboard are consequently carried by the conductors W through the windings of the first,

third, and fifth relays in the set 11. on the second panel, and the circuits of the correspondingly-numbered lamps are closed as the contacts 7 are attracted=to the cores n of the selected relays. In this manner the lamp connected to each circuit-closer 7 thus drawn to the core of a relay n is connected into both sides of the generator, because the conductor W from one binding-post 2 of the lamp runs to one pole, and the circuit from the other binding-post 3 is carried over-the conductor 4 through the contact 7, the core nof the re la the conductor W, the windings of the rei a to the conductor W and thence direct y-over the connection W7 pole of the generator. 4 h

The key 30 in its downstroke after touching the stop 34 and before being released comes into contact with the second stop 52 under its front .end, thereby completing a circuit from one side of the generator over to the. o osite 52, the-conductor W, and contacts 6 and 13 to the relay u of the panel that has just been lighted and then by conductors W and W back to the generator. The relay-magnet being energized attracts its armature and establishes a new circuit for itself, including the relay-magnet t, as follows: W from the generator, through the windings of the relaymagnet t, to the armature 50 of the magnet .u, through the core and then the'windings cuits over the conductors W at the contacts 6 13 on the panel and at the same time to complete the connection of the relay m on the next succeeding panel with one side of the generator through the conductor W, the

lever 45 on the panel just cut out, the conductor W running to the corresponding 1ever on the next panel, and through that lever and its front stop 47 to the coils of the relay m, and thence back to the opposite side of the generator over the connections and conductors W W. The circuit-closers 1O 24 and the keys 30 are returned to position by springs. The parts then will complete c1rcuits between the generator and the mechanism in the second panel as soon as a letter- .key is depressed on the keyboard'as', for

example, the key that controls the circuits of the first, ,third, and fifth lamps, 'as indicated in the diagram Fig. 1.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the illuminating-circuits are notbroken when the circuit-closer 10 is released and the contacts 6 13 are separated, because each separate illuminating-circuit is carried through a contact 7, the core n, and the windings of its individual relay in the set n and thence by the common conductors W W to the remaining side of the generator.

The throw-off key 39 furnishes a means for opening the circuit through a panel in case of.

a mistake in selecting the wrong key during the operation of setting up a letter. By depressing the key 39 a current is passed through the coils of the relay 8 and causes it to draw its armature-piece 44 away from the contact-stops 43, and thus break the circuit.

The relays s for the panels are wired and connected as follows: One end of the coil of IIO each relay is permanently connected by a 1 conductor53 into the common conductor W terminating at the contact-stop 41 of thekey 39; but the other ends of the coils of the relays are connected by conductors 54 to contact-stops 6 at the selector 10in the next following panels. The contact 6 is located under a contact 13 on the selector 10, and as the latter is moved by the relay m the contacts 6 13 are brought together and the conductor 54 is connected with the conductor '55, running from the stop 13".

The operation of the throw-oif devices will be understood from an examination of Fig. 3, it being supposed that there has been a mistake in exhibiting a wrong character on the second panel, which has just been illuminated. Under these circumstance it will be apparent, as indicated in this diagram, that the first and second panels are cut out from connection with the generatorthat is to say, the relays m thereof are cut out, while the connections at the third panel are properly made for the immediate illumination thereof. The operator, desiring to change the character shown at the second panel, presses the key 39 and sends a current from the generator through the electromagnet 8 at that panel, the circuit being traced as follows: from the positive side of the generator' through the key 39 and its contact by the wires W and 53 to the electromagnet s of the second panel, thence by the wire 54 to the contacts 6 13 at the third panel, which are closed, because the magnet m of that panel is' in closed circuit with the generator, thence by the Wires 55 and W back to the armaturelever 45 of the second panel, thence by the Wire W to the armature-lever 45 of the first panel, and then by the wire W to the negative side of the generator. The magnet s becoming excited attracts its armature 44, and as this is a connecting-link in the circuits through the electromagnets n, u, and t these circuits are all broken, the result of which is to restore the parts at the second panel to the positions just occupied by those at the third panel. This having been done, the operator presses the desired character-key 30, and the second panel is again illuminated.

It will be observed that the conductor 54 operates to connect the windings of the relaymagnet s with the contacts of the next succeeding panel, and so the conductor 54 of the last panel is connected with the first panel of the series, though this is not illustrated, as the limitations of the drawings prevent the showing of the whole series of panels.

In operatin the keys in the keyboard care should be taiien to move each key with a rapid downstroke and to quickly release it at the instant of making contact with the stops beneath the lever. If the key be kept too long in contact with the stops 52, the current flowing over the conductors W would be liable to act on several panels and produce the same letter on several at the same time. A quick sharp stroke of the letter-forming keys, on the other hand, will limit the action of the key to the. particular panel with which the switchboard is connected-at the time, and the panels will be acted on singly one after another.

All the panels may be thrown off and their lamps extinguished preparatory to setting up another set of letters or characters simply by opening the generator-circuit at the switch 40.

Any number of panels within practical limits can be operated and controlled through a single keyboard by the ab ovedescribed mechanism and circuits. The panels may be located also at considerable distance from the keyboard without affecting the operativeness of the apparatus.

For spacing'i. e., leaving one or more panels dark between letters, signs, or wordsthere is a special key provided for in the keyboard D, called the space-key. This key is not shown in the diagrams Figs. 1, 2, 3. It is similar to the other keys 30, but has only the stop 52 at its front end, and consequently controls only the relays u.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electrical sign a plurality of panels each having incandescent lamps arranged in fixed groups, a common generator-circuit,

conductors connecting one side of all the lamps or groups of lamps in each panel into one side of said generator-circuit, a conductor from the opposite side of every lamp or group of lamps connecting the same by a separate circuit into the remaining side'of the generator-circuit, a switchboard comprising stationary contact-bars to which the lastmentioned conductors are individually and separately connected, said contact bars forming individual terminals on the switchboard of all said conductors, a plurality of circuit closing selectors in the switchboard connected into one side of the generator-circuit and provided with contacts adapted by the movement of the selectors to brlng certain predetermined ones to the contact-bars in circuit with the generator according to the particular selector operated, means for individually moving said selectors at will, and electrically-actuated means in the circuits between the switchboard'and the panels adapted to electrically cut ofl from the switchboard each panel as it is illuminated by completing the circuits through certain of its lamps, and electrically connect the switchboard with the next panel in succession.

2. In an electrical sign, the combination of sign-panels each having a similar group of incandescent lamps, a generator for supplying current, conductors connecting said lamps into one side of the generator, a switchboard having separate stationary contact-bars equal in number to the lampsin each anel, connecting means separately and in ividually connecting the corresponding lamps in all the groupswith the contact-bars,whereby the said bars form individual terminals for the same connecting means in all the groups, a plurality of circuit-closing selectors arranged to be connected with the generator and each adapted ILS IIO

by the movement of the selector to complete a circuit through certain contact-bars apcordingto a predetermined number and position, electricallyoperated means for actuating said selectors individually, including a keyboard-having a separate ke for each selector, and means for electrical y disconnecting the switchboard contact-bars from one panel and connecting them with another panel in succession after each operation of the switchboard.

3. In an electrical sign a plurality of incandescent lamps in groups, a generator for supplying current, conductors individually connecting the lamps into one side of the generator, a separate circuit-controlling means in the circult-between each lamp and theremaining side of the generator comprising a circuit-closing relay to each lamp-controlling circuit, a switchboard having stationary contacts equal in number to the lamp-controlling circuits, conductors separatel connecting the lamp-controlling circuits with the stationary contacts to form terminals of said circuits on the switchboard, and'a plurality of movable contacts arranged in predeter mined varying groups with reference to the stationary contacts, key-actuated means for separately selecting and setting each movable contact upon the stationary contact with which it is adapted to'coact, electricallyoperated means for simultaneously disconnecting the stationary contacts in the switchboard from all the circuit-closing relays, and means electrically connecting the se ected lamp-circuits through the circuit-. closing relays directly into the remaining side of the generator to maintain the lamps in circuit. a

4. The combination with a plurality of illuminating-circuits, includinga source of current and a lamp in each circuit permanently connected into one side of the source of current and normally disconnected from the remaining side; of a switchboard having stationary contacts each of which forms a terminal of an illuminating-circuit, a plurality of circuit-selectors each adapted to control a predetermined number of the stationary contacts and connect the same into the source of current, key-actuated means for separatelybringing the movable contacts into operation, and

' electrically-actuated means operated thereb cuits comprising a group, said contacts forming indivldual terminals of said circuits, a

plurality of' selectors connected with the source of current and adapted to bring into' circuit a predetermined number of the stationary contacts the position of which in the switchboard corresponds to the position of t the lamps in the grou s connected with such contacts, a keyboar key-operated means for separately operating the selector of each letter-forming group, an electrically-actuated cut-out between every selector and the,

switchboard, means actuating the said cutouts in successive order from the movements of the selectors for operating the circuits between the switchboard-contacts and the selected group of letter-formin circuits and simultaneously connecting sai switchboardcircuits into the next group of letter-forming circuits, and means connecting the said sesource of current outside pf the switchboardcircuits. a 1

' 6. The combination with an illuminatingcircuit including a lamp, a source of current, a conductor connecting one side of the lamp .lected groups directly in circuit with the into one side of the source of current, a I

switchboard having a movable contact connected with the sourceofcurrent and a stationary contact forming the terminal in the switchboard of a lamp-controlling circuit, a circuit-closing relay in said circuit having oneend of its windings connected into the conductor through itscore and the other end connected with the source of current, whereb the circuit is completed when the circuitclbsing drop of the relay is attracted to its core, circuit-closing contacts interposed between the windings of the circuit-closing rela and the switchboard-contact, and electrlcally-actuated means for opening and closing said circuit-closer.

7. The combination with an illuminating'- circuit including a lamp in open circuit with a source of current, of a switchboard having a movable contact connected with the source of current, a-keyboard-actuated means for operating the movable contact and a stationary contact which forms the terminal ofa conductor running to the remaining side of the source of current, a circuit-closing relay interposed in the illuminating-circuit and adapted to normally hold that circuit open and to complete the illuminating-circuit when closed, a connection between the stationary contact of the switchboard and, the

windings of the circuit-closing relay, a circuit-closing device in said conductor, and means controlled from the keyboard operating to open and close at will the ,connection between the switchboardcontact and the circuit-closing relay.

8, In an electrical sign a plurality of mu minating-circuits, a generator supplying current, a circuit-closing relay in each circuit holdin the same normally broken, a switchboard aving a stationary contact individual to each illuminating-circuit, a circuit-closer in the connection between the switchboardcontact and the windings of each relay and normally breaking said connection, electrically-actuated selectors in the switchboard, normally standing away from the stationary contacts and adapted to variably connect the stationary contacts in predetermined groups into the generator-circuit, a keyboard having a key for operating each selector, means for successively closing and opening the con -nections between the switchboard and the x5 circuit-closing relays by the depression and release of the selected keys, and means actuated from the keyboard for electrically disconnecting the switchboard-contacts from each selected group of illuminating-circuits and connecting the said contacts for operation to the circuit-closing relays of another group of illuminating-circuits from which another selection is to be made.

9. In an electrical sign, a plurality of illuminating-circui'ts including a generator for sup lying current, a circuit-closing relay in eac circuit normally holding the same-open, a circuit provided with a circuit-closer through Which the windings of each circuit-closing 3o relay are connectible with the generator to actuate said circuit-closer, a selector therefor, and an operating-key for every selector. 1-0. In an electrical sign, a plurality of illuminating-circuits including a generator for supplying current, a circuit-closing relay to eachv circuit, an operating-circuit to each relay provided with a circuit-closer through which the windings of the relay are connectible with the generator to actuate the relay, 4:; a plurality of selectors for said operating-circuits each adapted to connect the circuitclosing relays in predetermined groups into the generator-circuit, an operating key for each selector, and cut-out mechanism for 4 5- eachselector actuated by the same key.

1 1-. In an electrical sign, a plurality of illuminating-circuits connected into one side ot a common generator, a circuit-closing. relay to each circuit operating to complete the saidicircuit to the opposite side of thegenerator, an: operating circuit toevery circuit-- closing relay, a. circuit-closer throughwhich it isconnectible into the windings of the circuit-closing relay to energize the same, a- 5-5 switchboard having a stationary contactbarfor each operating-circuit and forming a terminal of said circuit, a plurality of movable selectors connected in circuit with one side of the generator and comprising a plu- 6o rality of separate contact-strips arranged on a movable carrier in predetermined order i or selecting and making" contact with. thestationary contact-bars in varying relations as totheir position in the switchboard, an.

ceases operating-key for actuating" each movable carrier, and a circuit-opening key for throwing off the illuminating-circuits at will.

12. The combination of a' generator, illuminating-circuits normally open, a circuitcloser in each circuit including a relay through which the illuminating-circuit is closed on the generator, an operating-circuit to each relay provided with a circuit-closer through which one side of the operating-circuit is connected into the windings of the circuit-closing relay, means for operativcly connecting the opposite side of said operating-circuit into the generator and key-act1n ated means for actuating the circuit-closers of the operating-circuits in predetermined number and relation.

13. In combination with a plurality of electrically operated illuminating circuits standing normally open, a circuit-closing device to every circuit, an operating-relay to each circuit-closer, a switchboard provided with circuit-closing means operating to close a circuit through each operating-relay, and key-actuated selecting means for simultaneously closing the operatin -circuits of the said relays in predetermine number and relation and thereby close the illuminatingcircuits controlled by the operated relays.

14. In combinationa source of current, a plurality of illuminating-circuits arran ed in groups, electrically-actuated circuit-closing devices in each circuit, operating circuits corresponding in number to the illuminatingcircuits contained in a group, circuitzclosers for connectin said operating-circuits into the source 0 current, and key-operated selectors for connecting said operating-circuits into the circuit-closing devices of each group of illuminating-circuits in predetermined number and in successirve order.

15. In combination, a source ofi current, a plurality of illuminating-circuits arran ed in groups, electrically-antuated' circuit-closing devices in the circuits contained in: every group, a common switchboard having contact-bars equal in number; to the circuits ina group and to which the'corresponding illu-nubnating-circuits in a-ll the groups are connected in open circuit each through asepara'to operating-circuit, circuit-closing d'cvicesin said operating-circuits between the contact-- bars 'of' the switchboard and. the' circuit-closin devices-of the illuminating-circuits;1movafie' selectors adapted to connect the contactbars with the source of current in varying number and relation, key-controlled means for actuating said selectorsinrequired order, and a cut-out mechanism to every group of illuminating-(arc nits ANATOLE- (l. HETNY. 

